How To Help Kids Make Meaningful Resolutions for the New Year
Let’s talk about how to help kids
make meaningful resolutions for the New Year.
And get our fun goal-making printable
to help guide the process.
Working with your children to make meaningful New Year’s resolutions can result in some quality family bonding.
You’ll get a glimpse into their dreams for the future, and you can work together with them to achieve those dreams.
Think of it as a chance to be their cheerleader. And a chance to teach them how to pick achievable goals that won’t frustrate them.
Because it’s important for kids to have goals, and encouragement to achieve them.
How To Help Kids Make Meaningful Resolutions
Here’s a quote with valuable goal setting ideas.
Establishing short-term SMART goals is a way to help children succeed. SMART provides the detail, support, and guidance children and parents need to stay focused on […] goals.
SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Results-focused, and Time-Bound. Here is a breakdown of each section:
Specific: Goals should be simple and defined.
Measurable: There should be evidence of a met goal.
Achievable: Goals should feel slightly challenged but still possible.
Results-focused: Goals should measure outcomes and not processes or steps.
Time-bound: Goals should have a timeframe that creates a practical sense of urgency.
Steps to Help Kids Make Achievable Goals
- Set a time slot to sit down with your child without interruptions. Put away distractions like phones and tablets; make it just you and your child. Grab mugs of hot cocoa, our Goal Making printable, then cozy up together before the fire.
- Reminisce casually about the past year. Don’t make it a major interview, but ask them what they enjoyed and what they wished would have been different.
- Guide the discussion into ideas for a successful New Year. Talk about things they want to do (I want to go on more bike rides with Daddy), things they should do (I need to be kinder), a skill they’d like to learn or improve on (I want to learn calligraphy), and a habit they want to change or improve. (I want to stop shouting at my little brother.)
- Make sure they understand they don’t have to be perfect. Baby steps are fine. Mistakes are correctable. It’s important to learn how to get up when they fall.
- Assure them you want to be there for them, and make it easy for them to approach you for help or advice.
The time you spend with your child discussing their dreams is just as important as the goals they wish to achieve. Your encouragement will give them the strength to go after their dreams, and give them a feeling of security.
And those platitudes your parents dished out when you were young?
They’re important.
You thought sayings like “get up and try again” and “money doesn’t grow on trees” were spoken automatically, just an absentminded parental response. But they actually meant them. And were invested in you enough to repeat what their parents said and they realized was true.
Make your resolutions fall in line with your children’s. So if they wish to spend more time with you, we have ideas to help you achieve that goal.
Check out these posts for things you can do with your child/children:
Kick-Starter List for Bored Pre-Schoolers
Make a Fairy Garden Nightlight
Please share your ideas in the comments about
How to Help Kids Make Meaningful Resolutions
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